OBJECTIVESThe objective is to continue the process of completing the IDC Validation and Acceptance Test Plan. The focus for this particular meeting will be on reviewing the changes made since the September 2018 meeting and to continue improving the test content. Progress in this regard will be presented at WGB-52.

AGENDADay 1

Review of recent updates & status (PTS)

Expert presentations, discussion and feedback

Presentations and discussion of Experiment 3 results

Updates to verification methods and metrics for specific functionalities that have been tested in Experiment 3.

Day 2

Review of verification methods, acceptance criteria and metrics for the validation tests planned for Experiment 4

Expert presentations, discussion and feedback

Meeting outcomes and action items (PTS)

Expert contributions are sought for each topic of the agenda and should focus on specific, concrete suggestions to the plan that will help the PTS and WGB achieve positive outcomes from these activities. Supporting documents will be posted on the ECS prior to the meeting.

PARTICIPANTS PROFILE The meeting is aimed towards scientists, engineers and other persons who have technical expertise in one of the four IMS technologies, the functions of the IDC and in performance monitoring and testing. The participants are expected to provide their technical input to the IDC validation and Acceptance Test Plan.

States Signatories are expected to nominate Experts who will provide substantive inputs to the plan.

Information will be available on the Expert Communication System (ECS) prior to the meeting. Experts are expected to review and evaluate the material.

The Provisional Technical Secretariat may solicit presentations from participants on the topics of the meeting.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES and DEADLINE

All applicants are requested to apply through the online registration platform https://ctnw.ctbto.org latest by16 February 2019.

In addition to the online registration, States Signatories nominating experts are requested to do so through their respective Permanent Missions and to inform the PTS Point of Contact.

Applicants are invited to submit an abstract relevant to the objectives of the meeting at the time of registration via the registration platform.

Applicants requesting financial support must submit a relevant abstract to qualify for funding consideration.

All applications will be reviewed and applicants will be notified about their selection status.

No registration fee is charged for attending the Meeting.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION Applicable to PTS-funded participants only

Funding will be considered for those developing country experts fully meeting the Participant Profile.

In accordance with the Staff regulations and rules and Administrative Directives, the PTS will provide the following:

A Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) that is sufficient to cover related expenses during the meeting;

The PTS travel agent will reserve, issue and send the flight tickets to the participants for the most direct and economic route;

Funded participants are not allowed to purchase their own tickets. Under exceptional circumstances, funded participants may be authorized to purchase their own tickets and only if this proves to be most cost efficient for the PTS;

The PTS will book a hotel and cover the costs for the accommodation. Participants will receive their remaining DSA upon arrival in Vienna; and

Health insurance for the duration of the meeting will be provided.

OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION

PresentationsPower-Point presentations shall not exceed 20 minutes.

VisasParticipants should apply for visas as soon as possible, if required, at the corresponding Embassy/Consulate upon receipt of an Acceptance Note Verbale from the PTS.

Nominations arriving late may risk that the required time to obtain visas for the host country can no longer be met. In this context, the Secretariat wishes to advise that the host country requests a 5-week deadline for the submission of Schengen-visa requests to the respective Embassy/Consulate.

Health/Accident InsuranceIt is strongly recommended that prior to departure all participants should acquire health and accident insurance for the duration of the meeting.